Plymouth’s economy lost £41million last year alone and £196million since 2010.

Devon lost £134m last year and £644m since 2010.

Other constituencies in the South West on the TUC poll:

Exeter -15,066 workers lost £39.2m last year and £188.5m since 2010

Newton Abbot - 3,987; £10.3; £49.8m

Plymouth, Moor View - 9,966; £25.9m; £124.6m

Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport - 5,693; £14.8m; £71.2m

Recent TUC polling shows that one in seven (15%) public sector workers skipped meals this year to make ends meet. One in four (24%) say they couldn’t pay an unexpected bill of £500.

Research published by the IPPR last week revealed that raising public sector pay would boost spending in local economies. And it would help the public purse by raising tax revenues and reducing the cost of in-work benefits.

South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said:

“The public sector pay squeeze has driven up in-work poverty. That means less money spent on high streets and in local businesses.

“The pay cap is a false economy. The Chancellor must use the Budget to give all public sector workers the pay rise they have earned, and end these artificial pay restrictions.”